The Yankees veteran did catching drills yesterday for the second straight day, this time with manager Joe Girardi watching. Posada, who missed 15 games with a broken bone in his right foot, has not caught since returning form the disabled list on June 2.

Girardi planned on speaking with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad late last night about Posada in order to come up with a timetable for him to catch.

“I don’t see him favoring his foot in those drills he’s doing,” Girardi said before the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Astros. “I see him moving fine. To me he’s getting close.”

Posada has not taken to the role of designated hitter. He went 1-for-3 last night with a strikeout and is now 4-for-30 (.133) since his return from the broken bone in his right foot with 11 strikeouts.

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Brett Gardner was diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain of his left thumb after getting an MRI exam yesterday. Gardner came out of Wednesday’s game in Baltimore after hurting the thumb on a check swing.

“He will try to do some hitting in the cage,” Girardi said. “He’s better today. Hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”

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Yesterday was the seventh anniversary of the Astros’ no-hitter against the Yankees. Six pitchers combined to no-hit the Yankees on June 11, 2003. That was also the Astros’ last trip to The Bronx before this weekend.

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When Andy Pettitte recorded two outs in the first inning last night, it gave him 3,000 career innings. He is the second active pitcher to reach that mark, joining Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer, who has 3,981. . . . Roy Halladay will pitch Wednesday for the Phillies at Yankee Stadium.

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Playing a team like the Astros presents a challenge for the Yankees because they rarely see them. They have to rely on their scouting reports more than usual.

“The one thing you have to be careful about though is from a pitcher’s standpoint you go with your strengths and that you don’t get away from your strengths,” Girardi said. “From a hitter’s standpoint you still look for the pitch in the zone.”